Jitka Klimková stands down as Football Ferns coach ahead of Paris Olympics

Friday, 28 June 2024

Michael Mayne on how he found out he would be coaching the Football Ferns in Jitka Klimková's absence.

Jitka Klimková, in consultation with New Zealand Football, has opted to stand down as head coach for the Paris Olympics.

Klimková missed the team's last two matches due to an investigation into an employment-related matter.

She returned to her role on June 8 but that was short-lived. Assistant Michael Mayne will be acting head coach in Paris.

There’s been another twist in the Football Ferns coaching saga with Jitka Klimková now ruled out for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

New Zealand Football has announced on Friday that Klimková will not be heading to France with the team for the 2024 Olympics.

That statement came just 20 days after a similar one, that confirmed Klimková was returning to her post, after missing the two friendlies against Japan in Spain earlier this month due to an investigation into an employment-related matter.

Jitka Klimková will not be in charge of the Football Ferns at the Paris Olympics.

As he did for the two matches against Japan, assistant coach Michael Mayne will take over the role as head coach for the Olympics.

The door has been left open for Klimková to potentially return post-Olympics with Mayne described by NZF as an acting head coach.

NZF also said, in Friday’s statement, now was not the right time for Klimková to return.

“The decision comes following conclusion of an independent workplace employment investigation which cleared Klimková to lead the team at Paris 2024, however, in consultation with New Zealand Football, has taken the view that due to concerns in relation to the team environment, her wellbeing, and a restorative process having not been completed, it would not be the right time for her to return,” the statement read.

New Zealand’s Football Ferns squad is due to be named on Tuesday.

Michael Mayne will be the acting head coach for the Football Ferns at the Paris Olympics.

Klimková’s future as Football Ferns head coach was first thrown into question when NZF announced on May 26 she had 'opted to take a leave of absence from the role' of Ferns coach 'while an investigation is concluded into an employment related matter'.

That was three days after the New Zealand contingent had left for Spain. Mayne only found out he was the head coach for the Japan matches after landing there.

As it was an employment matter, NZF were tight-lipped on details.

But fast-forward to June 8 and NZF revealed that “with the investigation … carried out by an independent workplace investigator, now concluded, Klimková will return with immediate effect”.

The Football Ferns did not play a game between Klimková being reinstated on June 8 and then her latest stand down on Friday.

Klimková was appointed on a six-year contract that was set to run until the end of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

She coached the Football Ferns to their first World Cup victory on a historic night at Eden Park back in July last year - when the right foot of Hannah Wilkinson helped New Zealand to a 1-0 win over Norway.

However, the Football Ferns went on to to lose to the Philippines which prevented them getting out of the group stages in what was seen as a missed opportunity at home.

Although it is not yet know who, Mayne will being in additional coaching staff to assist him for the Olympics.